Wednesday

TWILIGHT TIME: Does San Diego really have twilight? People from different climes have shared stories of the purple shades slowly descending and lingering till all the stars fill the skies. Not that there's anything wrong with our golden sunsets. Twilight, as described in, say Maine, just sounds so exotic to those of us who have spent most of our evenings in Southern California. The Twilight in the Park concert at Spreckels Organ Pavilion at 6:15 p.m. Wednesday is called "Remembering Heroes" and features the United States Air Force Band of the Golden West Concert Band (hope they don't have to have that embroidered on their jackets). The program will be marches, classical selections and popular medleys – exactly the kind of thing you should hear at a free concert in the park. www.balboapark.org; (619) 239-0512

Saturday

GITTIN' JIGGY WITH ZIGGY: The folks at the track (that would be in Del Mar, where the turf meets the surf) keep throwing parties to get more than pony lovers into the place. Saturday, it's a Microbrew Fest and reggae guy Ziggy Marley. The beer (from 20 breweries) will flow all day (well, you have to buy a wristband for $14, which allows you five) and Marley (no extra charge) will flow after the last race – 6-ish p.m. Gates open at 11:30 a.m., and the first race is at 2 p.m. Under 18s get in free, adults pay $5. www.delmarracing.com; (858) 755-1141.

Sunday

THESE GUYS KNOW HOW TO EAT: In 1986, a McDonald's "restaurant" opened on the Piazza Spagna in Rome, and an international movement was born. Slow Food is dedicated to "the preservation and enjoyment of traditional and artisanal" edibles and encouragement that those be fresh and locally produced. Sounds like a good idea. So what the local chapter (called a convivium, isn't that swell?) does is meet, eat, educate and all that. Sunday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Orfila Vineyards and Winery in Escondido, they're throwing a grand event called "A Taste of (what else?) Slow Food." It is a benefit for the San Pascual Academy for foster teens and costs $65 for nonmembers ($75 at the door, if there are any spots left). Tastings from a dozen of the county's best chefs, auction, tours and tenor Daniel Hendrick. Ah, la dolce vita. www.slowfoodsandiego.org; (760) 630-1799

Hot tickets

BROADWAY ON B STREET: Forget about that little fire at the Civic Theatre. You can't keep a good stage down, and (tah-DAH!) the show must go on. Broadway San Diego, which brings touring shows to town, has a bunch of biggies coming our way, starting with "Little Women," a musical about those March women. The adjective plucky (you don't hear that one much anymore, do you?) was made for this family. The list of movies made from Louisa May Alcott's sentimental (did anyone say sappy?) Civil War-era story go on and on. Katharine Hepburn (1933), June "the remake queen" Allyson (1949), Meredith Baxter Birney (1978) and Winona Ryder (1994) have all starred as Jo, the aspiring writer and lead daughter. Kate and Light Fingers were the best. BSD's version plays Aug. 30-Sept. 4. It's followed by "Annie" (speaking of sappy and plucky) Sept. 27-Oct. 2. Other family shows in the offing: "Doctor Dolittle the Musical" in March, "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat" in June. That's as far ahead as anyone needs to plan. www.broadwaysd.com (where you will find a second-by-second countdown to the opening of "Disney's the Lion King" Dec. 9); (619) 570-1100